Virginia Prepared For Influenza Pandemic

Kenneth Miller
4:14PM 1/28/08
http://old.thejakartapost.com/detailnation.asp?fileid=20081127.G01

Tamiflu floods Virginia warehouses as the state prepares for the inevitable outbreak of a flu pandemic. The fore-mentioned warehouses remain secretive as to insure the safety of the drug while it awaits it's state wide debut. A flu pandemic in Virginia would be viewed as catastrophic; this consideration is also given to the unique variety of avian birdflu that still posses a threat. A flu outbreak would be simple to handle, however the real threat is with an outbreak of the avian flu as no reliable cure has yet been discovered. The disease is currently <333 in stage 3 in which it is capable of passing from animals to humans, which is only a small mutagenic step from level 4 in which transmission among humans is possible. In this stage the government would release quantities of Tamiflu to the general public, however a true vaccine would still be 4-6 weeks away from the initial outbreak. Officials fear a similar outbreak in Virginia as was spotted in 1918 which resulted in the deaths of 15 thousand residents, however they believe their formulated strategy will be an effective prevention of the incident.

It seems the new fear of flu pandemic is all the rage in media, as it is a nearly inescapable news topic. However I believe the coverage is clearly warranted, as an outbreak could cause magnitudes of social disorder and death. It is reassuring that states have planned and prepared effective countermeasures to to combat this possible threat. I can't help feel however that perhaps the secretive stashing of the Tamiflu is a bit over the top. This leads me to assume the government fears rash out breaks of violence from the general public and their attempts to raid the store houses, if not for a cure for a quick buck. Perhaps that is the naviety of my youth speaking as many of us have yet to experience a pandemic that rattles the nation. Lets hope in that we'll never have to.